Sink stopple



Patented May 30, 1933 UNITED' STAT-ss mui: i'.` scnacHT, vor' numerosi, moulu snrx s'mPPLn lApplication illed April 14,

This invention relates to all-rubber sink stopples, and is an improvement upon that shown in U. S. Letters Patent #1,646,112 issued to me on October 18, 1927, which pat- 5 ent discloses a stopple com rising a thin rubber disk of substantial uniform thickness having a dat lower face, and having an integral thick side rim portion, with a centrally disposed intevral handle,.and a knob on the rim portion liol' breaking the suction under thestopple to release the same.

All-rubber sink stopples, now in general use are usually made heavy at their centers an taper down to a feather-'edge at the rim, and hence have. a tendency to curl at the edge after short use, and soon become useless. ln my aforesaid patent this curling was partly overcome, but inthe improved sinh stopple, forming the subject-metter ot the present epplicetion, the center of the stopple is made thin while at the rim is a heevy hnge with en annular recess, whereby when the stopple is placed in the sink, the suction et the center of the stopple shuts the water ed, end the heavy rim keeps theA stopple :from curling, and the .recess in the heevj' rim creates e double vacuum, which provides a more ecient stop le.

rlfhe principal object thereroi'e of my invention is to provide s sink stopple of the type shown in my prior patent, designed to creste e double vacuum retbei? than a single vacuum to prevent the sinlr stopple :from curling end-to ceuse the rim to lay hat on the sinn. The heavy rim off the stopple is provided eecesses in its u per, lower, o? both `aces to creste the double vacuum.

h obect is to provide an ell-rubbein molded sink stopple hoi/'ing en integral rubber centering pin at its center on the lower side, said pin being adapted to engege any of the perioretions in the usual sink streiner to prevent the stopple from sliding so as to uncover the strainer end permit seepege or water past the stopple; also to provide-*e metallic pin, instead ot the interubber pin held by the resiliency of the rubber ina bore in the underside of the stopple; 'also to provide a molded recess in the bottom off' the rubber stopple adapted to 1932. serial no. 605,398.

receive a headed pin readily insel-table in the y recess to perform the same function, both the strai ht pin or headedpinbeing readily removab e so that the sink sto ple may 'be used either with or without the centering pin; also to providea sink stopple having a rubber centering pin molded on its Abottom, said rubber pin being reinforced by a metallic pin or the like, whereby the sto le will have the appearance of an al1-ru Eer sink stopple; at the same time the rubber facin thekpln fromscratching the enamel in the Sin f' I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanyino` drawin which illustrates several practical forms o the invention to enable others to adopt and use the saine; and will summarize in the claims the novel features of construction, @nd novel combinations of parts, for which protection is desired.

ln said drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top pers ective view oi' one form of molded kall-rub er sink stopple.

Fig. 2 is a, bottom perspective view thereo Y s.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3, Fig. l.

around the metallic pin will prevent showing in section the sink drain and v strainer to which the stopple is pplied.

Fig. 4 is a section similar to ig. d, but showing a modified lform of stopple in which the centering pin and the recess in the lower face of the thickened rim is omitted.

Fi 5 is a section similerto Fig.r 3, but showmg a still further noodilcation'.1

Fig.v 6 isy a section similer to Fig. 3 and showing a still further modiilcation, utilis ing the centering pin and the recess on the underside of the rim. j

Fig. 7 is a section similar' to F' 3 but showing a removable metallic centerin pin held in a bore in the stopple by the resiliency of the rubber.

Fig. 8 is a partial section showing a reinov y able metallic centering in having a head inserted ina correspon inly shaped recess in the underside ci the rub er stopple.

Fig. .9 is a partial section showing a metallic reinforcement molded in the rubber centering pin, the reinforcement being completely covered by rubber during the mold- 1ng process.

As shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3, the sink stopple preferably comprises a thin molded circular disk-like body portion 1 of elastic material, preferably of soft flexible rubber, so that the same will readil conform with the contour of the sink sur ace A (Fig. 3) upon which the stopple is placed.- The body portion may be of any suitable diameter, and its lower face la is preferably flat, and adapted to contact directly with a sink strainer B (Fig. 3). In the upper face of the stopple is provided a circular recess 1b, concentric with the vertical axis ofthe stopple whereby the central portion of the stopple is much thinner than the edge or rim portion le of the same. If desir-eid` one or more mtegral annular ribs (not shown),

concentric with the vertical axis of the stopple may be provided upon the upper face lof the stopple within the recess l?) to prevent -warping of the thin central portion.

The rim portion 1d of the stopple is 'molded thicker than the central portion thereof to prevent the edges of the stopple from curling or becoming out of shape, thereby insuring that the stopple will effectively prevent the liquid from passing the same, and the thick rim furthermore strengthens the periphery of the stopple..

At the center of the stopple projecting from its upper face is an integral knob 1e, of any desired shape, whereby the stopple may be readily handled. If desired the lug le may-be reinforced with fabric or canvas.

In Figs. 1-3 the rim portion 1d' is provided in its upper face with an annular recess 1k leaving ribs 1m at each side of the recess 1k; and rim 1d is provided with an annular recess 1p in its lower face whereby the rim 1d is rendered much thinner `at its center than at each side` andy thereby creating a vacuum underthe flange 1 which with the vacuum under the central portion 1b forms a double vacuum effectively holding the stopple down upon the sink or other surface.

Upon the rim portion 1d of the stopple is molded an inte ral knob 1h adapted to form' a handle w ereby the thick rim 1d of the stopple may be readily raised to break the suction under the stopple, when it is stopple thin and the rim portion heavy, a'V

greater suction is created to hold the stopple in place, and when the stopple is so placed in the sink it is almost impossible to pull same away from the sink bythe /knob 1e, but when it is desired to remove or release the stop le from the sink the rim 1d may be readi y raised b'y-lifting the knob 1h, thereby breaking the suction under the stopple, whereby same may be readily removed.

I further provide (Figs. y1 3) an integral centering pin 1g molded in the body adapted to enter any one of the holes in the sink strainer B (Fig. 3) to prevent the stopple from slipping sidewise to uncover the drain. The` pin 1g being made of rubber will not scratch or mar the enamel of the sink.

The stopple thus molded of all-rubber is effective, strong, and flexible, and will form a water-tight closure over the sink strainer or drain.

In Fig. 4 the recess in the bottom of the rim 1f] is omitted, andthe centering pin and the lifting knob 011 the rim portion may or may not be provided. The upper recess 11' in the rim is preferably slightly rounded whereby the sink stopple can he more readily cleaned, there being no sharp corners in the recess in which dirt or grease may collect and adhere to the stopple. As the central portion of the thickened rim 1d is thinner than the edges of the rim, a vacuum under the rim portion 1d will be created, and the stopper thus formed has the same double vacuum feature above explained with respect to Figs. L3; and as the stopple also has the thickened rim portion 1d the stopple will not curl at its edges.

In-Fig. 5 the upper recess in the upper face of the rim 1d is omitted and the upper surface is Vconvexly rounded. A recess 1s is rovided in the bottom face of the rim, whlch recess similarly provides the double vacuum feature of the sink stopple, and the thickened rim 1d prevents curling of the edge.

In Fig. 6 a modified form is shown in which the heavy rim 1d extends inwardly toward the center further than in Fig. 5, and the recess 1t in the underside of the thickened rim is provided. In this modification the integral rubber centering pin 1g is also provided on the bottom of the stopple. The stopple is made rather thin at thecenter and then thickens outJ to the edge to provide a heavy rim which will keep the rubber from curling, while the thin center makes it fier:- ible, and shuts the water olf quickly when 1t is ap lied to the sink.

In ig. 7 the stopple shown is substantially the same as in Fig. 3, but a bore 1u is provided in the .rubber which extends up 1nto the 4central lifting knob le, which bore is somewhat smaller than a metallic pin lfv inserted therein, whereby 'the pin lo will be retained in the bore 1w by the resiliency of the rubber. The in 1v however may be readily removed, if) desired, and the stopple used withoutthe pin.

In Fig. 8 a modified form is shown in which a in 1w having an enlarged partiglobular ead 1m is entered into aJ corre- ICU spondingly shaped recess 1y molded in the rubber. he rubber Will readily give suliciently to permit the head 1m to be inserted in or withdrawn from the recess 1y, and the y stopple may be used without the pin 1w if desired.

In F ig. 9 the rubber pin 1g is reinforced by a metallic insert 1a molded therein during the rocess of molding the rubber. The pin lz ein of smaller diameter than the portion of t e mold will permit the rubber to flow around the pin asI at 1g during the molding process and coat the reinforcing pin. with rubber to prevent the metal from scratching the enamel of the sink.

All forms of stopples may be molded with or without the knob 1h or centering pins 1g or 1w.

I claim:

1. A stopple made of thin molded rubber having a central portion of substantially uniform thickness and a Hat lower face, said stopple having an integral thick wide rim portion; a centrally disposed knob integral with the central portion; and an annular recess in the rim portion whereby a vacuum is provided both under the central portion and under the rim portion.

2. In combination with a stopple as set forth in claim 1, a cylindrical removable centering pin on the bottom of the stopple engaging a bore in the knob, the pin bemg retained in the bore by the resiliency of the rubber.

3. In a stopple as set forth in claim 1, the l annual recess being disposed in the upper face of the rim portion. i

4. In a stopple as set forth in claim 1, the annular recess being disposed in the bottom face of the rim portion.

5. In a stopple as set forth in claim 1, the annular recess being disposed on the top and bottom faces of the rim portion.

6. A stopple comprising a thin molded rubber disk of substantial y uniform thickness having a flat lower face, and having a rim portion; a centrally dis osed handle;

and a centering pin on the ottom of the stopple, said pin being straight and engaging a bore in the stopple, the pin bein retained in the bore by the resiliency o the rubber. v

7. A stopple made of thin molded rubber having a central portion of substantial uniform thickness and a flat lower face, said stopple having an integral thick wide rim portlon; a centrally disposed knob integral with the central portion; an annular recess in the rim portion whereby a vacuum is provided both under the central portion and under the rim portion; and an integral eentering pin on the bottom of the stopple.

WILLIAM F. SCHACHT. 

